The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-13
THE YICKSBURG CAMPAIGN.
The Absolute Necessity That Existed for
the Taking of That Stronghold.
The Dsaffection Prevailing at That Time in
Indiana and Illinois-Why Champion Hill
Was the Wars Most Important Fight.

Gen. III; D. Leggott. before Western Reserve His
torical Society.
The confederates commenced very early in
the war to fortify Vicksburg. They began i'm
mediately after the firing upon Fort Sumter
and there never was place better adapted to
the most impregnable fertilization. 1t is
doubtful whether the Notifications of Con-
stantinople are more formidable than we're
those of Vicksburg at that time. There were
three lines of batteres-one on the top Of the
hill, another about midway between the top ard
the foot of the hill, and the third at the base.
The Mississippi at that time was different
from what it Cow is. At present Vicksburg is
not on the river. Then the river passed Vicks-
burg in the shape of an S, so that shot fred
from the hill could cross the river three times.
The campaign proper opened in the latter part
OF 1867 There was real necessity for rails
ing the blockade. Illinois and Indiana were
becoming very FESTIVE There was a feeling in
these States very close akin to sympathy for
the confederates and to open the river would
be to keep these States within the Union. I'm
der orders from General Halieck directing him
to 60 down on the line of the Central Mssis-
sippi railroad, General Grant commenced
the campaign. General Halleck has the
honor Of conceivng the first plan for the
raising of the blockade. General Grant thought
that there were not enough troops at his COM
mand to reach Vicksburg according to General
Hallecks plan but when the orders came he
went, and took with him good supply of ra-
tions and ammunition. His first depot of supplies
was established at Grand Junction and his sec
ond at Holly Springs AT Holly Springs our
supplies were captured by Van Dorm, aud that
ended the campaign in this direction. Thousands
surrendered to Van Dorm at Holly Springs with
out struggle. and with them went all our sup
plies Finding that he did not need Sherman.
General Grant sent him down the river to make
an attack from that direction. Just as ne was
about to make the attack, General McClernand
came with authority from the President to take
entire command of the Thirteenth Army Corps
and the expedition down the river General
Grant turned back toward Memphis with all his
forces. Our supplies. l have said. were all
destroyed by the enemy, and General Grant said
that it was well they were, for he had learned
that an army could subsist on the country. Gen
eral Grant then commenced system of tactics
which he followed very closely. He not
much of a book man. While have great re.
gard for his ability. and while he was educated
at West Point, and was a close student when
there, / learned that he was not acquaint ted with
the military history of the world, or of the
worlds greatest generals. His strongest point
was that he knew juss where he was
weak, and so very early he picked out such men
as General Sherman, who was regarded crazy
at the outset OF the war. and General McPher-
sor, to support him. Mcpherson an ency-
clopedia OF military knowledge, and Sherman
was whole library Of learning. General Grant
was made the great general he by availng
himself of the military knowledge Of these two
men. He said he would always rather see q
battle field through Shermans eyes or McPher
sons eyes than through his own. He would
never allow either of them to express an opin-
ion, however. he simply wanted to know what
they knew and then he formed his own opinion.
After they had exhausted all the military tao
ties known in their effort to obtain landing
n M and fAff hn
rivers. General Grant for the first time demon
strated his great ability. He called meeting
OF his officers ana told them that every known
method had been resorted to without success
but that Vicksburg must be taken, and he then
decided to the blockade. Admiral Porter
told him that if he wrote letter requesting
him to give five Of his boats for the expedition
he would do So This General Grant did. l
don't suppose there officer except Gen.
Grant who thought that the boats would pass
Vicksburg l had orders to prepare one of
| these boats, and to man il. General Grant
mao ordered t,.. none ho 6Tt t. volunteers
batteries lining the river it seemed though we
would run straight into the jaws of death. and
did not believe sufficient volunteers could be
secured to man the boats. I called my men in
line, and told them what was to be done. /
explained the danger of the undertaking, and
| then asked all who were willing to make the
attempt to take two steps forward. Every man
| in that line stepped forward. One person
IL.
| for we had one female soldier among our num-
| ber It was not known at the time, but she was
| good soldier. Whenever there was q call for
| volunteers for the most dangerous venture. she
was of the foremost She had a small tent
| of her own, and WAS dressed in male attire so
| that her did not become known until after
the surrender of Vicksburg She fought as
bravely the bravest OF men, and she applied
| the torch to the fuse which blew up Fort Hill
| during the siege. When it was learned that she
| was woman sent her to the Governor with a
| message stating the truth-that she a
splendid soldier. and that believed the govern
| ment ought to provide for her. A farm was
purchased for her, and enough money was de-
posted to her credit in bank for her comfortable
/ sustenance; but she died at the close of the war
| and the cause of her entering the army. who
! learned.
| The first expedition past the mouth of the
| enemy's guns was successful. The boats started
| about one minute apart. They were ordered to
| go very slowly until they detected and
| then to put on a full head of steam. When they
were detected the whole hill was fash of fire.
/ was four miles away and paper could have
| been easily read where l stood. from the light of
| the batteries. Our boat, the Tuscumbia. Ad-
miral Porter's own vessel, was struck eighty -one
| times, and the Benton struck forty FIVE
| times second expedition made success
fully, and then we had nine boats below Vicks-
burg
Port Gibson was the place of the first battle
after General Grants army landed General
| Logan was one of the first to land He moved
out, engaged the enemy at Port Gibson and de-
| feated them. Then came series of movements
| which history gives very little about Grant
learned that General Johnston was at Jackson
with his troops. Here for the first time Gen
eral Grant determined to cut off from his sup
plies. against the advice of Generals Sherman
and Mcpherson. They said that it had never
been done successfully, and that it would be
fatal to do But orders issued for
every man to take five days rations and to
make that supply last twenty days. All tina.
was left was put on shipboard and sent away.
There was telegraph line along the railroad
between Vicksburg and Jackson. Grant knew
that Johnston and Pemberton were using those
lines to communicate with each other. He got